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American Sustainable Business Council Issues Statement on Senate Healthcare Bill

Targeted News Service

WASHINGTON, June 22 -- The American Sustainable Business Council issued the following statement by CEO and co-founder David Levine:

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A new bill has been proposed by the Republican leadership in the U.S. Senate to make changes to the nation's healthcare insurance system under Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The proposal would cut Medicaid payments, decrease subsidies for low and middle income families, and give states more latitude to opt out of regulations."

"The AHCA proposals from the House and now the Senate would be like sticking leeches on an already weak patient. Since the proposals would reduce access to healthcare and do nothing to reduce costs, they would only make the U.S. healthcare system worse, hurting U.S. businesses - especially those that compete internationally.

"High healthcare costs in the U.S. remain a counterproductive burden on both citizens and businesses. Business leaders know the price they pay for these out of control costs. Healthcare costs can amount to over 20 percent of total employee compensation. In total, the U.S. spends 18 percent of its GDP on healthcare, with mediocre to poor health outcomes, while OECD countries pay less than 10 percent on average and have better health outcomes. Employers in the U.S. spend more for healthcare, making them less competitive with global competitors.

"Even with the ACA, our healthcare system is unsustainable. We need comprehensive reform to reduce costs and further expand access. The AHCA does neither.

"If Congress truly cares about American business, it should build on the progress already made by the ACA. Congress should not be playing politics with our healthcare system, while our economy continues to waste 8 percent of GDP every year. We need to move toward a more rational system that would cover all working-class American families and cost much less. Instead, while Congress wastes time, it is hurting public health and hampering the international competitiveness of our businesses."

ASBC recently launched a business coalition, Business Leaders Transforming Healthcare, to work with policymakers and the healthcare industry on comprehensive reform to expand healthcare access and reduce costs, by applying best business practices such as lean production, and processes that are transparent, evidence-based and priced as a function of measurable value.